Microsoft To Replace Damaged Halo 3 Discs

Turns out the Halo 3 Limited Edition packaging can frag Halo 3 discs before they ever get into an Xbox 360, so Microsoft will replace them for free through December 31.

In an ironic twist, Microsoft is extending an offer to replace some of the discs for its just-launched Halo 3 video game because game packaging can damage the discs before players ever get a chance to launch the game.

The replacement program detailed on Microsoft’s Xbox Web site covers the Halo 3 Limited Edition Game Disc and Essentials Disc, following a spate of reports that the Limited Edition packaging was scratching the discs. Microsoft will replace the discs free of charge through December 31, 2007; before that point, the company apparently hopes to have the disc-scratching packaging out of retail channels.

Impacted customers must compete a form (available in PDF format) for each damaged disc and mail it to Microsoft’s disc replacement program. Microsoft says replacement discs should arrive in two weeks.